Builder&#39;s hardware



29, 1939. E. H. JOHNSON 2,171,065

BUILDER s HARDWARE Fi led Dec. is, 1936 a0 Elven/b1: I 26 Elvin H.J0I1ms0n for the bumper piece 28. prises a body portion 30 which has a pair of Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My present invention relates generally to builders hardware, and more particularly to door stops and door checks. It includes among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved door check which is simple in construction and which requires only a small number of parts.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a general view in perspective of a door and casing with my improved door check applied thereto;

Figures 2 and 3, respectively, are plan and elevational views, partly in section, of the device of my present invention, Figure 2 being taken 7 along the line 2-2 of Figure 3, and Figure 3 being taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view, partly in section, taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of one of the parts of my improved door check.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, the door I8 is hinged in a door casing by means of one or more spring hinges l4 adapted to move the door to its closed position. The door check: comprises a rod. l6 pivoted to the bracket l8 mounted on the door Ill, and it includes also a sleeve in which the rod l6 slides and which is pivoted on the plate 22 on the door casing l2. Carried on the extreme end of the rod I6 is a bumper and retaining mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 24.

Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 4, the rod I6 is provided with a transverse vertical pin 26 which extends on opposite sides of the rod to form pintles The bumper 28 comnotches 32 which are adapted to receive the ends of the pin 26, on which the bumper 28 is adapted to rock, as clearly shown in Figure 2. To permit this rocking movement, the opening in the body is elongated horizontally and also flared, as clearly indicated at 33 in Figure 2. Extending from the body portion 38 of the bumper 28 is a curved arm. 34 carrying a roller 36 which lies to one side of the rod [6 and slightly removed therefrom, and which also lies away from the notches 32 in a direction approximately 45 from the direction of the rod IS.

A collar 38 encircles the rod l6 and lies to that side of the bumper 28 opposite the pin 26. The collar 38 fits the rod I6 more closely than does the bumper '28, and therefore is not free to rock With the bumper 28. A compression spring 40 encircling the rod it bears against the collar 38 and at its other end abuts a long fusible bushing adjustably held in place by a nut 44 threaded onto the rod I6. It will be clearly noted in Figure 2 that the abutting faces of the bumper 28 and collar 38 are so shaped that the contact between them always tends to resist tilting of the bumper out of the holding position illustrated in Figure 2.

The sleeve 20 is provided with a cam portion having a forward, or deflecting, face 45 and a rearward, or holding, face 48 for engagement with the roller 36 of the bumper 28. The cam portion comprising the faces 46 and 48 is provided in duplicate on opposite sides of the sleeve 20 so as to permit the door check to be adapted conveniently to either a right or left hand door. In the illustrated embodiment, the deflecting faces 46 function also as impact faces to'engage the opposing face of the bumper and to cushion the movement of the door by compressing the spring 40. The sleeve 2!! is notched at 50 to clear the pin 26 when the spring 40 is compressed.

Figure 1 illustrates the door In in its open position, in which position the sleeve 20 is in engagement with the bumper 28, and Figures 2, 3, and 4 illustrate the mechanism in the same position. When the apparatus is in this position, the roller 36 lies in engagement with the rearward or holding face 48 of the sleeve 20 to retain the door in the open position. As the door is moved toward its closed position, the rod l6 must slide through the sleeve 20, and as this motion is initiated, the roller 36 must ride off the holding surface 48 of the cam portion of the sleeve 20. In so riding, the roller 36 causes the bumper 28 to rock about the pin 26 against the force of the spring 40. Consequently, the force required to withdraw the bumper 28 from. engagement with the cam 20 depends upon the tension of the spring 40. This tension is adjustable by turning the nut 44 along the threaded portion. of the shaft l6. Once the roller 30 has ridden over the cam portion of the sleeve 20, it disengages the sleeve 20 and the rod l6 may slide freely through the sleeve 20, permitting the door to close under the force of the springs of the hinges M.

The distances at which the bracket "3 and the plate 20 are located from the axis of the door hinge M are so chosen with respect to each other that in the closed position of the door ill the rod l6 folds against the door into a final position substantially parallel thereto and below the door casing l2.

When the door is opened, the rod Hi again slides through the sleeve 20 and brings the bumper 28 into engagement with the sleeve. As the sleeve 20 approaches the bumper 28, the forward face 46 of its cam engages the roller 36 and rocks the bumper 28 on the pin 25 against the force of the spring 40 so as to raise the roller 36 as the cam surface Lit moves thereunder. As the peak of the cam moves under the roller 36 so that the roller comes into engagement with the holding surface "58 of the cam, the rocker 2B rocks in the other direction under force of the spring 49. As the rod 65, propelled by the momentum of the door iii, continues to move and carries the bumper with it, the bumper 28 comes sharply into engagement with the end of the sleeve 29. The bumper 23 stops against the sleeve 20, and as the rod l6 continues to move, the pin 26 moves away from the bumper 28 and into the notches 50, the spring 49 being compressed so as to provide a cushioned stop for the door iii when it reaches the extreme open position.

In case of fire while the door is open, only a slight rise in temperature is necessary to fuse the bushing $2. This deprives the spring id of its tension and the holder becomes inoperative and permits the springs of the hinges i i to close the door.

Because the same spring '59 determines both the force of the holding action on the surface 58 and the cushioning action, the adjustment of the nut M to get a holding action that just overcomes the tension of the springs of the hinges M, will automatically provide also a stiff cushioning action for a large and heavy door, and a lighter cushioning'action for a lighter door.

Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully explain my invention that others may, by, applying knowledge current at the time of application, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. In combination in a door check: a rod; a foot pivoted at one end of said rod and adapted to swing about said end of said rod on a first axis which is transverse to the axis of said rod, said foot being adapted to be mounted on a door, and having a face parallel to said first axis adapted to engage the surface of said door; a sleeve fitting said rod so that said rod slides therethrough; a plate pivoted on said sleeve about a second axis transverse to the axis of said sleeve, said plate being adapted to be mounted on a casing, and having a surface perpendicular to said second axis adapted to engage the surface of said casing; said sleeve being oriented on said rod so that said first and second axes are substantially parallel; said sleeve having a forward end thereof facing away from said one end of said rod; a cam on said forward end of said sleeve, said cam having a forward lifting face and rearward holding face; a pair of pintles extending transversely from said rod; an abutment ring encircling said rod and adapted to rock on said pintles opposite said sleeve; said ring having a forward face adapted to abut the forward end of said sleeve; an arm extending laterally and forward from said ring and having a holding portion adapted to overhang said cam and engage said holding face of said cam when said forward face of said ring abuts said forward end of said sleeve; a. collar rearward of said ring fitting said rod closely whereby said collar is restrained from rocking with said abutment ring; a spring behind said collar and a nut behind said spring threaded onto said rod; the rearward surface of said abutment ring being such that said spring normally holds said holding portion in the path of said cam, whereby as said sleeve and abutment ring approach each other and said holding portion rides over said cam, said abutment ring rocks to compress said spring.

2. In combination in a door check: a rod; a foot pivoted near one end of said rod and adapted to swing on said rod about a first axis which is transverse to the axis of said rod, said foot being adapted to be mounted on a door; a sleeve fitting said rod so that said rod slides therethrough; a plate pivoted on said sleeve about a second axis transverse the axis of said sleeve, said plate being adapted to be mounted on a casing; said sleeve being oriented on said rod so that said first and second axes are substantially parallel; said sleeve having a forward end thereof facing away from said one end of said rod; a cam near said forward end of said sleeve, said cam having a forward lifting face and rearward holding face; a pair of pintles extending transversely from said rod, an abutment ring encircling said rod and adapted to rock on said pintles on that side of said pintles opposite said sleeve; said ring having a forward face adapted to abut the forward end of said sleeve; an arm extending laterally and forward from said ring and having a holding portion adapted to overhang said cam and engage said holding face of said cam when said forward face of said ring abuts said forward end of said sleeve; a spring behind said ring for holding said ring on said pintles and against said sleeve; the rearward surface of said abutment ring being such that said spring normally holds said holding portion in the path of said cam, whereby as said sleeve and abutment ring approach each other and said holding portion rides over said cam, said abutment ring rocks to compress said spring.

3. In combination in a door check: a rod; a mounting bracket pivoted near one end of said rod and adapted to swing on said rod about a first axis which is transverse the axis of said rod; a sleeve fitting said rod so that said rod slides therethrough; a mounting bracket adapted to turn on said sleeve about a second axis: transverse the axis of said sleeve, said mounting brackets being adapted to be mounted on a casing and door; said sleeve being oriented on said rod so that said first and second axes are substantially parallel; said sleeve having a forward end thereof facing away from said one end of said rod; a cam formed on said forward end of said sleeve, said cam having a forward lifting face and rearward holding face; an abutment ring encircling said rod; a fulcrum between said ring and sleeve for adapting said ring to rock about an axis transverse to said rod; said ring having a forward face adapted to abut the forward end of said sleeve; said ring having a holding portion adapted to overhang said cam and engage said holding face of said cam when said forward face of said ring abuts. said forward end of said sleeve; a spring behind said ring for holding said ring on said fulcrum and against said sleeve; the rearward surface of said abutment ring being so shaped that said spring normally holds said holding portion in the path of Said cam, whereby as said sleeve and abutment ring approach each other and said holding portion rides over said cam, said abutment ring rocks to compress said spring.

7 i. in combination. in a door check: a rod; a mounting bracket pivoted near one end of said rod and adapted to swing on said rod about a first axis which is transverse the axis of said rod; a sleeve fitting said rod so that said rod iii! slides therethrough; a mounting bracket adapted to turn on said sleeve about a second axis transverse the axis of said sleeve, said mounting brackets being adapted to be mounted on a casing and door; said sleeve being oriented on said rod so that said first and second axes are substantially parallel; said sleeve having a for- Ward end thereof facing away from said one end of said rod; a cam formed on said forward end of said sleeve, said cam having a forward lifting face and rearward holding face; an abutment ring encircling saidrod; a fulcrum between said ring and sleeve for adapting said ring to rock about an axis transverse to said rod; said ring having a forward face adapted to abut the forward end of said sleeve; said ring having a holding portion adapted to overhang said cam and engage said holding face of said cam when said forward face of said ring abuts said forward end of said sleeve; a spring behind said ring for holding said ring on said fulcrumand against said sleeve; the rearward surface of said abutment ring being so shaped that said spring normally holds said holding portion in the path of said cam, whereby as said sleeve and abutment ring approach each other and said holding portion rides over said cam, said abutment ring rocks to compress said spring; said sleeve being shaped to clear said fulcrum whereby to adapt said sleeve to lift said abutment ring off said fulcrum against the force of said spring to cushion the abutment of said sleeve and ring.

5. In combination in a door check: a rod; a mounting bracket pivoted at one end of said rod and adapted to swing on said rod about a first axis which is transverse the axis of said rod; a sleeve fitting said rod so that said rod slides therethrough; a mounting bracket adapted to turn on said sleeve about a. second axis transverse the axis of said sleeve, said mounting brackets being adapted to be mounted on a casing and door; said sleeve being oriented on said rod so that said first and second axes are substantially parallel; said sleeve having a forward end thereof facing away from said one end of said rod; an abutment ring encircling said rod; a fulcrum between said ring and sleeve and adapting said ring to rock about an axis transverse to said rod; said ring having a forward face adapted to abut the forward end of said sleeve; engageable gripping elements on said ring and sleeve adapted to be moved into and out of gripping engagement by the rocking action of said ring when said forward face of said ring abuts said forward face of said sleeve; a spring for holding said ring against said fulcrum and for rocking it thereon to a normal position such that as said sleeve and abutment ring approach each other said spring rocks said ring to engage said gripping elements.

6. In a door check, in combination: a rod; means for pivoting One end of said rod to a door; a guide having sliding engagement with said rod; means for mounting said guide on a door casing; unitary abutment means mounted on said rod for sliding and tilting movement with respect to said rod; stop means on said rod for limiting the movement of said abutment means toward said guide means; and unitary spring means for urging said abutment means toward said stop means and for resiliently resisting tilting movement of said abutment means; saidguide means and abutment means having interlocking irregularities. of contour movable into and out of engagement by tilting of said abutment means.

7. In a door check, in combination: a rod; means for pivoting one end of said rod to a door; a guide having sliding engagement with said rod; means for mounting said guide on a door casing; unitary abutment means mounted on said rod for sliding and tilting movement with respect to said rod; stop means on said rod for limiting the movement of said abutment means toward said guide means; and spring means for urging said abutment means toward said stop means and for resiliently resisting tilting movement of said abutment means; said guide means and abutment means having interlocking irregularities of contour movable into and out of engagement by tilting of said abutment means.

8. A door check according to claim 6 in which said spring means comprises a unitary helical compression spring encircling said rod, and a fusible abutment sleeve encircling said rod and abutting the end of said spring remote from said abutment means.

9. A door check according to claim 6 in which said guide means and abutment means include a roller mounted on one of said means and constituting the active portion of the irregularity of contour of the means on which it is mounted.

10. In a door holder: elements adapted to be connected to a door and a door casing and to be actuated by movement of said door; one of said elements including a bumper and a holding hook; a single unitary spring means for restraining cushioning movement of said bumper, and hooking movement of said hook; and meansfor adjusting the tension of said spring means, whereby adjustment of said spring means simultaneously increases or decreases both the cushioning action of said bumper and the holdin action of said hook.

ELVIN H. JOHNSON. 

